Families Under 1 Roof Drops

DIGEST

September 20, 1988

WASHINGTON -- The percentage of U.S. households in which the people who live together are related -- by marriage or otherwise -- has declined a fifth in the past 40 years, the Census Bureau said on Monday.

Families now constitute 71.5 percent of all households, down from 90.3 percent in 1948, according to new figures.

A variety of factors have contributed to the family`s slipping share of households, including the increasing numbers of widowed elderly living alone, unmarried couples and young people postponing families to pursue education and careers, Census demographer Steve Rawlings said.